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on 6/24/19 2:56 pm, edited 6/24/19 7:57 am
I can't speak to what your second opinion surgeon said as I'm not a medical professional. My experience is as follows.
Liquid reduction in june 2017 for severe GERD.
esophageal manometry in June 2017
Liquid removal in Aug 2017
EGD in Aug 2017 to determine state of esophagus
Official diagnosis of moderate esophagitis, no Barret's
30lb weight gain with no restriction
Approval for band removal after results of studies
Band removed May 2018. 3 month wait required by surgeon
Severe stomach scarring from band. Low motility in esophageal sphincter
Prescribed PPI and Carafate to help with healing and reflux
Original revision approval expires (grrr)
Psych eval, appeal for approval
EGD + EGD Bravo study for a week with acid sensor
Barium and gas contrast study
VSG in Nov 2018 with hiatal hernia repair
on 6/24/19 2:31 pm
I had a revision from Lap Band to VSG with Blue Cross. Before approval, I had the following assays:
Esophageal manometry
Barium contrast study
EGD (endoscopy)
I had a diagnosis of GERD caused my reduced motility of my esophageal sphincter due to damage caused by my band... Well, caused by me overeating for 14 years so that the food pushed up against my lower esophagus.
My surgeon submitted the study results and a recommendation and I got approved for surgery. My appeal came when I went to get my revision and they said no because my first WLS was a "failure". My appeal included study evidence showing that my weight loss was average for lap band, 30% excess body weight, and that I had to get it removed for medical reasons. Eventually I was approved.
My surgeon made me weight a minimum of 3 months after band removal to get a sleeve surgery. I wound up waiting 6 (May-Nov) and used evidence that I didn't gain over that period as justification to support my eventually surgery approval. (my earlier approval had expired during the intervening months)
It's a long slog. They make you jump over many obstacles.
on 6/24/19 2:18 pm
I'm a revision from Lap Band to VSG and, after the repair of my hiatal hernia, my GERD, while still present, is better. The cause of my GERD is a damaged esophageal sphincter caused by improper eating with my hand over 14 years. It's pretty common.
If your lower esophagus is stretched from overeating with your sleeve, then GERD might not be fixed with RNY. I had several studies (manometry, EGD, EGD Bravo, contrast study) to understand why I have GERD. That informed what surgery I would revise to after my band was removed.
There are procedures to address the esophagus stretching like a nissan fundoplication. You may have a hiatal hernia as well.
Good luck.
I posted awhile back about looking into getting a revision to a DS and got some wonderful support and responses. I reached out to Dr. Inman, the closest doctor I could find (still almost 3 hours away) that performs a real DS (and revises to them!)
Her office staff was super helpful in getting me scheduled and between talking with them and my appointment, less than a 2 week wait. Incredible.
Summary: I had a VSG when I was 15. I am now 23. I'm only about 25lbs less than I was on the day of my surgery. I have a metabolism from hell. I've been insulin resistant since I was 5 years old. diagnosed with hypothyroidism, pco**** or miss on if i'm hypertensive or not, mild sleep apnea, etc...
I've always followed every diet and doctors plan to a T with little to no results. The sleeve didn't hurt me but it didn't really help me much either and I'm hoping a DS will be a tool that I can use to help manage my health in a more efficient way.
Has anyone else seen Dr. Inman? What should I expect from a first consult? Any particular questions or topics I should raise with her? It's been awhile since I've done this and I"m a little rusty!
How long was your wait period between consult and surgery, too? If I may ask?
My biggest concern is that while I still have hypothyroidism and my bmi is above 40, my a1c & fasting glucose have been great recently (off medication, testing where I'm at with GP) and that by some miracle it doesn't appear I'm insulin resistant anymore and I'll no longer qualify for a revision. If hypothyroidism (that didn't appear until the weight was at the highest) and possibly mild sleep apnea still are my only comorbididies, would they still consider a revision on me because my weight is still so elevated?
Thanks for the help guys. I really appreciate it.
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone is fighting some kind of battle."
~
Check out my blog? (: www.ourfightnow.net
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Hi Stephanie,
We would be happy to assist you and help in any way we can. (Free services for our members!) Can you please email us at: [email protected]... We look forward to hearing from you!
ObesityHelp Member Services Team
on 6/21/19 6:06 pm
Yes. He is and I hear he is wonderful!!
Although, I have spoke with them and Dr.K doesn't do revision to RNY. Only to DS. I was sad when I found this out because Dr. K is in my insurance plan. Thanks for the suggestion anyway
Dumping while a side effect is a blessing. It keeps you away from fried foods and sugar. So I personally see that as a win with the RNY. Wish I would dump harder but I have to bake the right choices without that aid. Malabsorption comes with all RNY surgeries. With distal it's just greater that includes calories. Which is why it's used to aid greater weight lose. It's a personal choice but it's not much different then the RNY. Makes sure your surgeon is going to reduce the stomach and tighten the stoma. It all needs to be adjusted back to original.
Thank you for sharing your personal experience with me.
I had the Lapband in June 2009 with a revision in April 2014 to Gastric RNY. I did great up until my accident and was placed on steroids for my injuries that I sustained. With that said, I was down from 270 to 154 and now I'm back up to 222.
My insurance covers the revision, but I was not comfortable moving forward and not knowing ALL the potential side effects. Currently I'm on a iron pill daily. I just met with my hematologist and she said that she could work around most vitamin deficiencies but wanted me to make sure this is what I wanted to do.
My surgeon said that the side effects of the surgery could be dumping especially if I ate fried food and perhaps side effects a malabsorption by being vitamin deficient.
Thank you!!
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV). 
Hey!! I apologize for the delay. I am 6 weeks out from 2 surgeries (complications). My heart rate went the opposite way it was as high as 170. But I'm home now and recovering. I am praying that it works.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV). 
